120 years ago today, on November 5, 1905 (October 9, 1905), Tsar Nicholas II brutally massacred Jews. A minority of the thousands of victims of Russian anti-Semitic atrocities On November 5, 1905, Tsar Nicholas II, in an effort to end a year-long protest against his rule, issued a declaration promising to expand the political rights of his subjects. However, a few days later, there was a new act of violence aimed mainly at Jews. More than 1000 Jews were killed in Odessa, Russia. The massacre was instigated by opposition officers and government officials. Because they believed the wave of protests the previous year had Jewish support. American Jewish leaders have called for aid to the fugitives and have raised $70,000.